Our big girl! Chloe turns 4!

I’ve been SO neglectful at taking pictures of the kids and also posting on Kellan some “real” family moments. Nothing is more important than celebrating birthday milestones in our kids lives. I am blown away at how long some days can seem but before I know it another year has ticked by in a heartbeat. Our Chloe Grace has definitely shed all traces of babyhood and toddlerhood and has officially blossomed into a little girl. With her freakishly articulate speech and massive vocabulary…this child resembles nothing from her toddler days.

A long legged beauty with dimples, unending imaginary play and deep thoughts has emerged. I wrote a sentimental post last year with lots of pictures of her growing up for anyone wanting to see her transformation from rolly polly Chloe to this brunette stunner.

Instead of lamenting about the past I sit here today with eager anticipation for the future. I can hardly believe the thoughts this child has about the world, God and others. She has a way of articulating her feelings or creating magical worlds of fairies, princesses, and unicorns that astound me. She is both highly literal and yet uber abstract and creative. From sentence to sentence I have no idea what will tumble out of her mouth or what she will plead for me to role play with her.

For anyone who has watched the “Anne of Green Gables” series you would have a good grasp on what Chloe is like. One on one she will talk your ear off and invite you into her world. In a crowd she can be a social coin toss from indifferent to charming. I’m realizing the older she gets the more she is a quality time/one on one child. Crowds overwhelm her fast and cause her to retreat. It’s been an interesting process as a parent to accept each child you are given…quirks and all…and embrace the dynamic they do bring into the family. Chloe and I are quite different. She is so much like Ryan it is scary at times….but man do I love and adore this little wonder. My Chloe, my only girl.

Although Chloe asked for a birthday party that included such things as “purple, pink, glitter, princesses, rainbows, hearts, stars, and unicorns.” I exercised my right as her mom to trump her requests for a party where a craft store exploded all over the walls and decided to revisit my oversized pinwheels I made for the One Little Dove Shoot. I know I have precious few years where I can take the wheel on themes and so I ran with the pinwheel one again.

This time I made miniature pinwheels for the cupcakes to mimic the larger ones on the wall. By far, the mini’s are MUCH more tedious and difficult to make than the large pinwheels. I felt like I was going to have blisters all over my hands from the glue gun for days. They came out adorable even if four year olds can’t come close to appreciating their aesthetic.

My mom played resident nail stylist for all our princesses that arrived at the party.

My niece painted faces.

Chloe waiting patiently for her nails to be done.

Decorating door hangers.

Getting ready for cupcakes and singing.

Ignore my crazy expression.

Presents!

One of her presents for her birthday was a special afternoon out at my friends farm. There are two horses taking up residence there. I figure if I can’t give my daughter her favorite mythical creature of a unicorn, I can certainly let her frolick with some horses! SHE WAS IN HEAVEN!!!! Kid in a candy store.

Can I say that she donated over 12 inches of this amazing hair a few weeks ago to Locks of Love. So proud of her but man do I miss that gorgeous mane!

She felt SOOOO old leading the pony into his stall.

The best!!! Nail polish for horse hooves, hilarious.

Working out in the exercise pen.

My carefree, magical beauty. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for her.

Sara Ernst

So amazing Kel, I love it all and I hope this doesn’t make you sad…but seeing this pics made me miss her long hair. : )

Way to make it happen all over again with the pinwheels in such a cute, chic, simple, but completely amazing way!!!!!! We love those pinwheels!

December 10, 2010·

Amanda

LOVE. She has grown so much - even from the pictures from last years’ birthday! Goodness!

Happy Birthday, Miss Chloe!

I hope we get to meet her, and your beautiful boys one of these days.

PS - The kitchen came out awesome. ;)

December 10, 2010·

ashlee

how did you make the pinwheel?
i made them for a christmas party this weekend and they didnt look as clean as yours. the seems where i glued them, you could see.
might i have a hint? :)

December 13, 2010·

dikola

Happy Birthday Chloe! She’s beautiful Kelly!

December 13, 2010·

Sunshine Lewis

She is the sweetest. . Love these so much.

December 13, 2010·

chrissy romine

this is amazing, kelly. i cannot believe how old she looks! not only did she FEEL old leading that pony but she LOOKED old! she’s gorgeous. more gorgeous every day!
ps: i’m gunna hire you for jane’s first birthday party. you’re ridiculously crafty and i, somehow to my art-teacher-mother’s chagrin, did not get a whole lot of this talent.